The Academic Program

Environmental studies (EVS) is an individually designed, interdisciplinary program established in 1965 and coordinated by the Environmental Center. Students wishing to earn a BA degree with a major equivalent in environmental studies may do so under the Interdisciplinary Studies Program. The program encourages a great deal of self direction to accommodate the student's individual goals and interests.

Environmental studies students may focus their curriculum on either the social or natural/physical sciences and find employment in both the public and private sectors as environmental resource managers, environmental specialists, hazardous waste managers, or any number of related fields. Others pursue graduate studies in environmental sciences, law, chemistry, biology, public health, planning, geography, resource management, etc. A unique feature of the program is the ability to undertake an internship with a local agency or organization chosen by the student. In this internship (IS 489), students design and carry out an environmental research project complete with proposal, progress and final reports, and formal oral presentation to the internship sponsors. The EVS program has enjoyed the consistent cooperation and enthusiasm of more than 40 federal, state, and county agencies and departments and many private organizations as sponsors of EVS students.

Undergraduate Study

Bachelor’s Degree

The equivalent of an undergraduate major in environmental studies is available in the BA in interdisciplinary studies program. For information, contact the Environmental Center or Interdisciplinary Studies Program. Interested students should refer to the “Interdisciplinary
Studies” section within the Colleges of Arts and Sciences.

Requirements

Introductory courses:

BIOL 101/101L or BIOL 171/171L

CHEM 151/151L or 161/161L or 171/171L

ECON 120 or 130

Major courses: Students must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours, including:

BIOL 310 or OCN/OEST/MET 310

BOT 454 or ZOOL 200/200L

GEOG 404

OCN 320

IS 489

20 to 24 credit hours in courses specific to the student's area of environmental studies specialization

Certificate in Environmental Studies

A Certificate in Environmental Studies signifies that a student has completed substantial environmental course work in addition to the requirements of his or her regular major. Certificate candidates are required to submit a proposal and complete 15 credit hours of course work, including two required courses and three electives from an approved list of courses. The required courses are BIOL 310 or OCN/OEST/MET 310, and IS 489. Electives for social science or humanities majors are two courses in the natural sciences and one from the social sciences. Natural science majors must select two courses from the social sciences and one from the natural sciences.

Please note: This Catalog was prepared to
provide information and does not constitute a contract. The University
reserves the right to change or delete, supplement or otherwise amend
at any time and without prior notice the information, requirements and
policies contained in this Catalog.